ARE 5.0 Handbook Updated!

We wanted to let you know that we have posted an updated version of the ARE 5.0 Handbook (August 2017). It is now bigger and better than ever!

Most of the updates were minor and related to spelling/grammatical fixes or updates to image quality. No changes were made to Objectives and no new reference materials were added. One new sample item was added, sample item #11 in PPD, to illustrate using the rotate function of a drag-and-place item. This sample item has also been added to the ARE 5.0 Demonstration Exam, available through your NCARB Record.

Largely based on feedback from you all, we also added a couple new sections to Handbook (see bigger and better above). We included a couple new pages in the Introduction section that describe the exam format and the five item types used on ARE 5.0. We also added an entire new section on Case Studies. This new section describes what a case study is and how to navigate the interface. It also provides the correct answers and reference/rationales for the case study items used in the ARE 5.0 Demonstration Exam. It is similar to THIS existing thread.

Enjoy all 182 pages of the updated ARE 5.0 Handbook! And as always, if you have questions, post them on the ARE 5.0 Community for help from other testers and the NCARB moderators.

Brian...we're just trying to respond to the needs expressed by folks on the community. None of new sections are new information, they were just discussed in several areas besides the Handbook. All in one spot now!

I think Kurt really has a good analogy here! Sometimes things end up in one area of the drawings or specs and not in another. At least all of the information was out there for you Brian. When information get's entirely left out is when those change orders really start to add up.

Not holding me back either, but to claim it's analogous to a change order is a stretch. You guys developed the exam, and while there are always bumps, the focus has been more on the design than the content.

I've got PPD and PDD left. I have absolutely no problem with the exams themselves (other than the length), my problems stem from the constant "catch-up". I sent in an issue for my last exam and it took an entire month to get a "join our community" answer and "sorry for the delay". But right before, "you can now use the keypad for the calculator" (which, by the way, you still have to click to clear).

The customer service and the hap hazard nature of the information are still quite unremarkable and should be addressed in a more professional manner. We shouldn't have to hunt for information on a forum. An update system for things like this would be much more appropriate and appreciated considering not all of us has the same amount of time to cruise a forum. I just happened to log on to it to see if anyone else had to wait a month for a reply.